Pinterest fuels interest in woodwork, renovations

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This article was published 28/04/2021 (1677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Surging interest in home renovations and crafts has driven up lumber prices, leaving Windsor Plywood in Brandon scrambling to keep up with demand.

“We’ve got a full yard — we really stocked up,” manager Peter Behrens said. “We’ve got a pile of stuff because I think in the next couple months there’s going to be all kinds of stuff you won’t be able to get.

“We’ve got more stuff than we’ve ever had, here, but the thing is, it’s a big question mark … We wouldn’t be surprised with what’s going to happen next because it has been so weird.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic killed travel options worldwide, people found themselves with more time on their hands.

“People were stuck at home and on Pinterest because they’re coming in and doing projects,” Behrens said of the social media platform that shows people examples of various craft projects.

People were looking at the same walls every day and figuring they should do something to improve the surroundings they were stuck in, he added.

“I’m surprised at how many young people are taking up just the craftsman part of it — doing things like special epoxy projects, building furniture — it’s really neat to see that.”

On this front, exotic woods have been flying off the shelves.

The growing demand has driven up prices to such a degree that Behrens said he’s surprised to see demand continue seemingly unabated.

“It’s like being in a war, where you’re short of this and short of that and you’re not sure you’ll be able to get it,” he said. “I think it’s just weird for everybody.”

JT Interiors Design Group owner and designer Jolene Toder expressed a similar sentiment, noting things have been busier than ever.

After a week’s pause when everyone was wondering what was going on when the pandemic first hit more than a year ago, she said, “We literally worked 18-hour days for months and months just to keep up.”

New builds were steady, she said, with the real uptick taking place in home renovations.

“We’re finding people are looking for serene,” she said, adding people are striving to make their homes a “peaceful place” because they’re spending more time there.

Calm colours have been popular, with people seeming to prioritize blues, and people want to make their space cosy, comfortable and clean — “the three Cs everyone is looking for, no matter the style.”

Meanwhile, the added demand has resulted in a supply chain that is “not only cracked, it’s shattered.”

As such, Toder urges people to come up with a succinct plan — something designers are integral in drafting — and make sure all the materials are on site before work begins.

“I drove to Selkirk to get a sink for a client, otherwise they wouldn’t get it until July,” she said, adding another client had a home gym constructed only to find the exercise equipment he’d wanted would not be available for months.

If not for strong planning, people could be missing integral components for long periods of time, and/or spend more than they’d initially planned as prices continue to fluctuate.

“Builders are there to build, draftsmen are there to draw, and designers are there to plan,” she said. “It’s just being smart with your planning.”

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

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Keeping building permits in mind

City of Brandon building permits related to residential renovations increased slightly last year, from 52 in 2019 to 62 in 2020, though this only scratches the surface of what has transpired, since not all renovations require permits.

Those who are uncertain as to whether they require a building permit should phone a city inspector, building safety manager Murray Fischer said.

“Usually, our inspectors are a little bit quicker to answer the question than have someone go to our website and go through the bylaw,” he said. “There’s a lot of content in the bylaw.”

Adding a bathroom, putting in a horizontal addition, finishing a basement and expanding a window size all require permits.

Replacing existing things such as siding or exterior finishing doesn’t require a permit — it’s mainly additions that require permits.

Fischer also wants people to be aware of the municipality’s Sewer Backup Subsidy Program, which offers funding for property owners wanting to install a sump pump and pit and/or backwater valve in their home or business.

The subsidy is available for up to 75 per cent of materials and installation costs to a maximum of $2,500 for the sump pump and pit and a maximum of $1,500 for the backwater valve.

The effort is a result of a Brandon City Council budgetary decision, for which they earmarked $100,000, in response to last year’s flood event triggered by heavy rainfall.

» The Brandon Sun